Lifting device



0. MATHER LIFTING DEVICE Jan. 12, 1932.

Filed Sept. 13, 1928 2 sh eets-sheet smut/"tom Oscar- Matfier Jan. 12,1932. o. MATHER LIFTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 13. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Fig.5

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gwtnntov Oscar Nmt'her wumww Patented Jan. 12, 1932 OSCAR MATHER, OFCHATTANCOGA, TEZ'FN'JSQ.

CORPORATION, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARELIFTING DEVICE Application filed September 13, 1928. Serial No. 805,783.

This invention relates to lifting devices and particularly to thosedevices intended for use in lifting automobiles for the purpose ofcleaning, inspection or repair of the under portions thereof.

In the use of automobile lifting devices for use in garages and repairshops it has been found advantageous to lift automobiles in such a waythat not only will the under portion be accessible, but that the wheelsmay turn and be removed if found to be desirable. It has also been foundto be desirable to have the lifting means take up as little floor spaceas possible when the device is not in use.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedlifting device for automobiles.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an automobilelifting device which will exert its lifting force in such a way as toleave all of the Working parts of the automobile including the wheels,available for inspection, cleaning and repair.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an automobile.lifting device which will have its lifting power applied to a singlevertical lifting screw and in turn transmitted to a pair of toggle setsto lift the automobile by the combined action of the toggle sets.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent to oneskilled in the art from a reading of the complete specification ancclaims.

Referring to the drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred embodimentof my inven tion, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention inpartially raised position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention in the lowest position.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view at the base of the lifting screw.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view through the upright support showingthe lifting nut and its connections.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the roller connection between thesupporting frame and one of the cross members of the lifting device.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the connection at the lower end of one ofthe cross members of the lifting device.

In the drawings, similar reference characters refer to the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

One of the important features of this in vention is the compactness ofthe device when not performing its lifting function.

On the floor or other solid foundation is placed the supporting meanswhich in the embodiment illustrated are the channel be: ns 10 placedwith their flanges upward. l1ese channel beams 10 are placed in parallelrelation and at distance apart substantially equal to the distancebetween the two longitudinal frame members of the average auto mobile.These channel beams are secured at all to another channel member 11. ToBatter channel member 11 is secured an upr "ht screw supporting columnor frame for the support of the lifting screw to be later described.

This screw supporting frame or column comprises two upright beams aschannels 12 having the flanges of each beam, in the embodiment hereinillustrated, extending in a direction away from the other beam. Thisplaces the webs of each beam toward each other. It is to be noted thatthese beams are spaced apart to provide a space for the lifting screwand its cooperatin nut to he later described. As the lower ends of thesechannel beams 12 are two spacer brackets 13. At the top of the channelbeams 12 is a cap piece 14 which secures the two beams in proper spacedrelation to each other at their tops. I

Secured at the bottom of the channels 12 and to the channel frame member11 is a gear casing 15. This gear casing 15 is provided in its bottomwith any suitable thrust hearing as the ball thrust bearing 16.

Supported by the thrust bearing 16 is the lower end of the screw 17Above the thrust bearing 16 and lacy-ed to the screw 17 by a key 18 is aworm gear 19. In the side of the worm box is mounted a worm 20 which issupported by a motor shaft 21. On the outer end of he motor shaft 21 islocated a motor 22 which motor provides power to operate the screw 17through the shaft 21, worm 20, worm gear 19 and shaft 17.

members 26, 27 are preferably regard framemembers26f2i7 and'the u l ofthe" support members 10, respectively. f'Th'e' rear ends of the channelmembers "30 "er is supplied tot-he motor 2 throughithe shaft '21, Worth20, gear 19,fd ri ves ,the' screw 1?. {m l ft are he Having screwthreaded engagement with the screw .17 is a nut 22 which nut 22transmits tne lifting force from the screw 17 as will be described.Secured to the nut 22 as bolts and on the front of the channel members12, is a plate 23 to which are secured the lifting braces or hangers 24,25. The

upper hanger or brace is secured on the top of the plate :23 while thelower brace or hanger is secured to the front of theplate 23 b" aclanmin 121 26. The outer ends of both braces 24, 25 are secured to theframe which prevldes the support for the automo bile when thelatter-sisa-beinglifted- This:

frame comprises side members 26, 27, a front iiieni'be'r'28'and a'rearmember 29. The side angle irons an? 1 at the aren'cl-s'ofthese'angleirons that the braces or hangers 24, 25' are secured. "To'supp'o t thefrani'e'flfiy fi 28*,29, two tong er parallel motion cross rovidedfa'ndareso constructfed as to "cause the frame to '1112i1nta1n"al3 alltimes-a bers 10 in' other WOPClS't-O remain horizontal parallel wishesto the support" m em s-of its height:r

c Thesecr'oss members are-each preferably constructed of'two-channelmembers 30', 31, pivotedtogether at 32. Inorder' to'rernforcethe pivot point and provide asuflicient bean ing surface forthe pivots'32, blocks 33 have been provided in the spacebetween the 'fiangesofthechannelmembers 30, 31. These blocks fill the space-between the channelsand are Suitably secured in place asbyspot Welding' These blocks33 notonlyfp'rovide 'suffe cie'nt'bearing surface for the pivots 32;but

in addition, thevform a reinforcement for the Weakest ""of the channelmembers.

At theforvvard ends of the channels 3C1, 31ers located rollers 30,313130 contact with and bef'g 'uided 'in' the iln der surfaces of thesurfaces are pivoted atB lftot'he support members 10 andth e rearends-cf the channel membersiil are pivoted'to the frame members 26, 2?,

respectivelvat 35. The pivot pins 32am so v placed that as the frame 26,2. 7 28;29 is lifted,

the rollers 30, 3l w ill' roll ntheir respective surfaces and lift-theforward end of the frame, keeping it at the same level as the rear endofthe-frame.

In operation' 'electric curr en t orother poi-"- The motor, and worm""Thescrew 1'7 22" which transmits its lifting force through the plate23 to the hangers or braces 24, 25' to the framemembers 2-6; 27.

As the'scrervl'z. revelv es the frame is lifted.

In order'fo providea guide for holding the nut steadv' when the screw isoperated there is provided a guide member'BG which is own completesupport.

, -the automobile so that the ir power turned 02% out interr'uptioh hy pres-er the and that modihc 51 extends arounc. the channel members 12.

It is only necessarv member durin operation" as gleor parallel mot'There is prev 37. This guide 1 me 2 29 will be in proper relation t lthe-lifting operation-takes place.

After the autos 1 I 1 ans, tnetion takes place as already describe Iti's'to'h-e noted hasbeen raised;:tne the same may pass I cross members'ncl bel \v,

under L d8? lC; i

I he it 1s desired the power is rever's ing; the direction of re Thiscauses the parts to e or lowered-position;

It is to bc'note parallelfl motion cre's between the 11' members 10, tieany excavati al 1 wt'he g n this construetzoh the l Whole" maybe shiftedto any' withont'any pennanconstruction "a D ten. e mining ea -over the Iopeilati'oi'i.

Illustrated I v one ma e withoiit depar the inventionand wit pendedclaims.

Having desc ed claim andfdes 'e'to entis':

1. A liftin'g device prising a flat [group means, a carrying frame gagethe underside o as vtoi motion means for frame ontal' secure s raise thethe tension member and to the carrying frame and power means foroperating the screw.

2. A lifting device for automobiles comprising a flat ground engagingsupporting means, a carrying frame having sides to en gage the undersideof an automobile, parallel motion means for maintaining the carryingframe horizontal when a lifting force is applied at one portion of theframe to raise the same, and raising means connected at one end of theframe, said raising means including an upright frame at the end of thecarrying frame, guides on the upright frame, a screw supported by theframe and parallel with the guides, a nut in cooperative relation withthe screw to be lifted thereby and mounted to slide in the guides, avertical tension member connected to the nut, lifting braces connectedto the tension member and to the carrying frame and power meansoperatively connected to the screw for turning the same.

3. A lifting device for automobiles comprising a supporting means, acarrying frame, a pair of sets of crossed members, the frame beingsupported by the cross members adjacent their upper ends, the crossedmembers of each set being pivoted together and pro portioned to causethe frame to maintain a substantially horizontal position when raised,the supporting means and carrying frame having means for maintainingcorresponding ends of opposite cross members in spaced relation to eachother, the corresponding cross members of the sets, except adjacent totheir ends, being separated and free of connections to permit freepassage of a mechanic therebetween when the lifting device is in use andmeans for simultaneously raising the frame and operating the crossmembers to maintain the frame in substantially horizontal position.

4. A lifting device for automobiles comprising a supporting means, acarrying frame, a pair of sets of crossed members, the frame beingsupported by the cross members adjacent their upper ends, the crossmembers of each set being pivoted together and proportioned to cause theframe to maintain a substantially horizontal position when raised, thesupporting means and carrying frame having means for maintainingcorresponding ends of opposite cross members in spaced relation to eachother, the cross members of the sets, except adjacent to their ends,being separated and free of connections to permit free passage of amechanic therebetween when the lifting device is in use, the supportingmeans extending side-wise to points beyond the centers of wheel support,and means for simultaneously raising the frame and operating the crossmembers to maintain the frame in substantially horizontal position.

5. A lifting device for automobiles comprising a supporting means, acarrying frame, a pair of sets of crossed members, the frame beingsupported by the cross members adjacent their upper ends, the crossmembers of each set being pivoted together and proportioned to cause theframe to maintain a substantially horizontal position when raised, thesupporting means and carrying frame having means for maintainingcorresponding ends of opposite cross members in spaced relation to eachother, the cross members of the sets, except adjacent to their ends,being separated and free of connections to permit free passage of amechanic therebetween when the lifting device is in use, the width ofthe carrying frame being less than the distance between the automobilewheels, the frame having spaced side rails to permit access to theunderside of the automobile and means for simultaneously raising theframe and operating the cross members to maintain the frame insubstantially horizontal position.

6. A lifting device for automobiles comprising a supporting means, acarrying frame, a pair of sets of crossed members, the frame beingsupported by the cross members adjacent their up er ends, the crossmembers of each set being pivoted together and proportioned to cause theframe to maintain a substantially horizontal position when raised, thesupporting means and carrying frame having means for maintainingcorresponding ends of opposite cross members in spaced relation to eachother, the corresponding cross members of the sets, except adjacent totheir ends, being separated and free of connections to permit freepassage of a mechanic therebetween when the lifting device is in use, amast at one end of the lifting device and a screw means forsimultaneously raising the frame and operating the cross members tomaintain the frame in substantially horizontal position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

OSCAR MATHER.

